The C.R.O.S.S.ROADS™ choice process detailed here may be used for general decision-making, goal setting, conflict resolution, and problem-solving. It was originally created for use as a tool to help students make better choices in conflict resolution situations in a school setting. It was so successful that there was a 56% reduction in disciplinary referrals over a 2 year period. Added as a strategy after the implementation of Great Expectations in a second school setting, disciplinary referrals became all but non-existent. There are five steps in the process: C - Choice - What is the choice I’m making? R - Reality - What is happening now? O - Options - What are some choice options I might try? S - Select option/s and create a plan. S - Start over. Together with a school creed, the Eight Expectations, and Life Principles form the guidelines for making positive choices.

The process may be used verbally at any time or place, quickly running through the questions to focus on the particular need. Having witnessed the five steps being used effectively in situations such as two students caught running down the hall, altercations during recess, disruptions in a classroom, goal setting for professional development, or at an administrative meeting where procedural decisions were being made, the process has proven itself to work. Participating in an individual or collaborative effort, those involved take ownership and responsibility for the choice, the actions and the outcome.

Verbally running through the steps is more than adequate in the majority of situations. At other times the worksheets and forms aid in giving a structured outline for the details of the process. For example with conflict resolution it is particularly useful to give the participants a place to write down the facts and think through the possible solutions. One particular sixth grade student who spent too much time being sent to the office for class disruption first of all identified what she was doing and its consequences, and then came up with ideas for changing her behavior. Instead of a “This is what you’re going to do!” from a teacher or administrator, it was “This is what I’m going to do!” from the student.

Index of C.R.O.S.S.ROADS documents: Goal Setting Process - Explanation of the 5 step decision-making goal setting process. Simplified Goal Setting - A simplified goal setting form. Expanded Goal Setting - This document goes through the process in more detail and has the individual or group considering the consequences of each choice option. Planning Worksheet - This document gives a format for detailed planning for carrying out the choice option/s. Progress Worksheet - This document is for the evaluation of progress and minimal revision of the goal setting plan.